Queensland Treasurer Curtis Pitt and Minister for State Development Dr Anthony Lynham announced an extra $7.6 million as part of an Advanced Manufacturing Roadmap to help traditional manufacturers adopt advanced manufacturing techniques in order to grow and compete on the international markets.

Image credit: www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au

The announcement was made during a visit to electrical manufacturer NOJA Power at Murrarie.

“This is a company that started work almost 15 years ago building circuit breakers, a classic example of traditional engineering,” Mr Pitt said.

“Today, NOJA’s product range includes smartphone apps that allow workers for transmission companies to remotely control switches on power poles with WiFi. This company has expanded its export market to 82 countries, and it is now one of the world’s leading manufacturers of medium voltage switch gear for power poles.”

The roadmap features a number of measures, including a $1.5m program of workshops on robotics and digital business capability, $550,000 for hacker/maker spaces to connect manufacturers with ideas and innovations, and $700,000 for workshops to encourage manufacturers to use design and engineering analysis software, new materials and advanced manufacturing techniques.

In addition, the roadmap includes $900,000 to improve manufacturers’ energy efficiency and produce stronger environmental outcomes, as well as $250,000 to get more young people into manufacturing careers.

State Development Minister Dr Anthony Lynham said Queensland-based manufacturers will be encouraged to compete for grants between $50,000 and $2.5 million, with case management support and contributions from companies.

“Manufacturing is one of our traditional strengths that we want to expand to create new jobs and new products that can be sold into both local and export markets,” Mr Lynham said.

“Labor’s strategy is to make the state’s existing $20.3 billion sector more internationally competitive to create high-skill, highly-paid jobs of the future. More Queensland businesses can use advanced materials, 3D printing, artificial intelligence, sensors, advanced automation and embedded electronics to produce customised products for the world.”

Queensland’s manufacturing sector is estimated to be worth about $20 billion. This sector is the fifth biggest contributor to the state’s economy and employs about 167,400 Queenslanders – 88 per cent of whom are full-time.

The Advanced Manufacturing Roadmap is one of the six roadmaps being prepared under the Government’s $405 million Advance Queensland program.